European countries suspend Syrian asylum decisions after Assad’s fall
While Berlin and other governments said they were watching the fast-moving developments in the war-ravaged nation, Vienna signaled it would...Geostrategy
Syria: Tens of thousands of Alawites flee Homs, fearing rebel advance towards Damascus-coast strategic link
Analysts said they expected the fighters led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) to push on towards the city,...Geostrategy
UAE court commutes Israeli’s death sentence to life, says lawyer
A United Arab Emirates court has commuted the death sentence of an Israeli woman convicted of drug possession to life...A 43-year-old Arab Israeli photographer, Fidaa Kiwan, was arrested in Dubai in 2021
She was sentenced to death in April for possession of 50 grams of cocaine and half a kilogram of marijuana
What led to Sri Lanka’s economic ruin and what lies in store?
Under the rule of the Rajapaksa clan, Sri Lanka moved closer to China and borrowed billions of dollars for vanity...Even with help from India and others, in April the country defaulted on its $51-billion foreign debt pile.
Unofficial inflation rates are second only to those of Zimbabwe, making many goods -- if they can be found -- too expensive for many people to afford.
Troubled waters: Iraqi spa reborn after IS massacres
Located 30km south of Mosul, Hamam al-Alil , meaning the baths of the sick in Arabic, built a solid reputation...The spa and surrounding village, which shares the same name, is now also known for massacres committed by IS during its occupation of the area.
After the defeat of IS in 2017, the baths remained popular although the building had fallen into disrepair, with chipped tiles and broken windows.
Nothing should hold Arab women back: Suzy Kanoo
Not only Arab women but all women should not be fettered by anything in pursuit of their goals, the Bahrainian...Kanoo is CEO and President of the Khalil bin Ebrahim Kanoo Company and International Motor Trading Agency in Bahrain.
She is the author of ‘Hear Us Speak’, which encouraged many women to tell their stories.
Iran arrests two film directors for ‘inciting unrest’
Iranian authorities have arrested two film directors for "inciting unrest" following a deadly building collapse in the country's southwest in May,...Award-winning filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof and his colleague Mostafa Aleahmad were arrested over events relating to the building collapse, which sparked angry protests
Organizers of the Berlin film festival on Saturday protested against the directors' arrests and called for their release
Joe Biden to ‘strengthen a strategic partnership’ with Saudi Arabia
US President Joe Biden said Saturday he aims to "strengthen a strategic partnership" with Saudi Arabia during a visit there...The White House confirmed earlier this week that he will meet MBS as part of that larger delegation during the trip
Biden will also visit Israel and the West Bank during his July 13-16 trip, which he wrote will "start a new and more promising chapter of America's engagement" in the Middle East
Regional projects vital for future, says Jordan’s King Abdullah
King Abdullah spoke about Jordan's Economic Modernization Vision for the next decade which seeks to sustain recovery the COVID-19 pandemic....King Abdullah spoke about Jordan's Economic Modernization Vision for the next decade which seeks to sustain recovery from the COVID pandemic.
The vision plans for the coming years by capitalizing on opportunities in the Kingdom, especially amid the impact of the Ukrainian crisis.
Bashar al-Assad arrives in Aleppo, first visit in 11 years
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Friday visited the former rebel bastion of Aleppo, including its historic Old City, for the...The visit to Syria's second city and previously the economic capital is highly symbolic as Assad's 2016 victory there was a turning point in the war
The Syrian government does not have authority over all of Aleppo province, with areas on the Turkish border still controlled by Ankara-backed groups and the Kurdish Syrian Democrat
EU, Morocco to step up anti-smuggling ties after migrant deaths
At a meeting Friday in Rabat, the EU and Morocco "agreed to renew their partnership in order to work together...At a meeting Friday in Rabat, the EU and Morocco "agreed to renew their partnership in order to work together to tackle human smuggling networks
The June 24 tragedy provoked international indignation, including an unusually strong response from the United Nations
Tunisia President amends constitution to ward off criticism
Tunisian President Kais Saied published an amended version of a draft constitution in an attempt to ward off criticism after...The new constitution, which will be put to a referendum this month, is the centerpiece of Saied's plan to remake the North African country's political system
Changes have been made to an article that stated Tunisia "is part of the Islamic community" and that "the State must work to achieve the objectives of Islam"
